January 30, 2023

The Mediterranean diet was named the healthiest diet by U.S. News & World Report for the sixth straight year.

For nutrition experts like Melissa Keeney, RD, Hartford HealthCare, it was hardly a surprise.

“The Mediterranean diet is linked to lower risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, heart failure, cancer and type 2 diabetes. Evidence also suggests it can improve gut health and cognitive function,” she notes.

But what is it about the Mediterranean style of eating that’s so good for us?

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The Mediterranean diet in a nutshell

Named after the region in the world where people blended healthy, more natural eating, the Mediterranean diet promotes meals rich in:

• Grains
• Fruits and vegetables
• Legumes
• Tree nuts and seeds
• Olives and olive oil

“The diet also encourages moderate to high intakes of fish and seafood, and low consumption of red meat and dairy,” Keeney explains. “Meals are more plant-based and fresh, and the lifestyle includes physical activity, both planned exercise and activities like walking, taking the stairs, housework and gardening.”

No calorie counting required

One of the beauties of the Mediterranean diet, she says, is that it celebrates food, just healthier ones.

“When a diet is very restrictive or cuts out food groups, it is a red flag! This does not cut out major food groups and there is no calorie or macronutrient counting required,” she says, adding, “It is not an ‘all or nothing’ approach. You can incorporate foods from the Mediterranean diet into your current eating pattern.”

To make your eating pattern more Mediterranean, Keeney suggests:

• Add a handful of almonds or walnuts as a snack.
• Make salad dressing with olive oil, lemon and fresh black pepper.
• Eat fish twice a week.
• Try new grains like couscous, barley or farro.

Add a handful of almonds or walnuts as a snack. Make salad dressing with olive oil, lemon and fresh black pepper. Eat fish twice a week. Try new grains like couscous, barley or farro.

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Many ways to customize it

The Mediterranean diet can be tailored further to your ethnicity or personal choice, Keeney says.

“This diet, for example, encourages eating chickpeas while, in Southeast Asia, lentils are promoted,” she says, noting that much more research has gone into the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. “In Latin America, meals are made with black and pinto beans. All are similar nutritionally.”

Aim to create nutritionally balanced plates regardless of the type of food you enjoy. That includes: a carbohydrate, which is needed for energy; fat; protein; and fiber.

Ready to give it a shot? Try this recipe.

Keeney shared this recipe to help you try Mediterranean-style eating.

Orzo Pasta Salad with Roasted Chickpeas

• 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1 ½ cups orzo
• 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed

Read the full article here.